If you're a diehard fan of The Last of Us video games, or you have one in your life, then your Christmas shopping just got so much easier this year. While the second season of HBO's television adaptation will be released on home video later this fall and will make for the perfect stocking stuffer come the holiday season, there's one must-have present all fans will want underneath the tree.
The Last of Us video game developer Naughty Dog and Dark Horse Books have officially collaborated to release a hardcover book that contains all of the scripts from both parts of the video game and its standalone expansion Left Behind. The collection, titled The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts, will be released on Dec. 16 in bookstores and Dec. 17 in comic shops.
While books have been released in the past, whether about the art of the video games or the prequel comic American Dreams, this will be the first time that the scripts from the video game will be compiled in a book for fans. It's a relatively affordable collectible, too, that currently costs about $66 to $70 to preorder, according to its listings on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
While that might sound like a steep price to pay, the 618-page tome captures all of the scripts written by Neil Druckmann and Halley Gross and also features a foreword by Joel's voiceover actor Troy Baker, an art gallery with work by Hyoung Nam, and a textured cover and Cordyceps fungus-inspired block printing along the edges. Take a look at the cover in the photo below!
Along with the book's announcement, creator Neil Druckmann shared a statement about bringing these words to fans for the first time:
"These scripts, written during the games’ development, were meant to guide our team as we brought that world to life. They were never intended for public view — until now. For the first time, we’re sharing them with you — hoping this rare glimpse brings you even closer to the heart of Joel, Ellie, Abby, and the world they inhabit."
To say that the video games are beloved by fans would be an understatement, so it's especially exciting for those who adored playing them to be able to have a tangible connection to them beyond the games or even the hit TV show. It's not often that collectibles like this are released specifically for fans, which makes this upcoming release a special addition to anyone's collection.
Even if you're not a fan of the games and have become interested in The Last of Us through HBO's adaptation, The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts book is still a worthy addition to your shelf or coffee table, though the words aren't exactly the same. Maybe sometime in the future, the scripts from the series's seasons will be released in a book as well as a companion.
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